Violence Against Women Task Force Meeting - April 29, 2026

The Violence Against Women Task Force, convened by Alderman Tabaras (23rd Ward) and Commissioner Donna Miller, held a virtual meeting on April 29, 2026, at 20:30 UTC. The meeting focused on the mental health and wellness of first responders, particularly as it relates to domestic violence calls. Dr. Lisa Franklin, a licensed clinical psychologist and former deputy corporation counsel for the City of Chicago, delivered a presentation on the psychological toll on officers and the need for systemic wellness interventions. Attendees included representatives from the Cook County Sheriff's Office, Cook County State's Attorney's Office, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, the 100 Club of Illinois, and other stakeholders. No public speakers were present.

Presentation by Dr. Lisa Franklin

• Dr. Franklin highlighted the high number of domestic violence calls in Chicago (approximately 350 per day according to Chicago police data) and the emotional dysregulation that officers experience. She shared an anecdote of an officer who, due to being already dysregulated, escalated a domestic call, illustrating that officers are not taught to de-escalate themselves.
• She noted that between January and November 2024, 80 Chicago police officers had their police powers stripped, with 20% of those for domestic violence arrests. She argued this indicates multiple prior incidents given the difficulty of arresting an officer for domestic violence.
• Dr. Franklin stressed the concept of moral injury (seeing or doing something that violates one's morals) and how it differs from PTSD. She cited a 2024 American Lawyer survey showing 68% of lawyers meet criteria for generalized anxiety disorder.
• She proposed that wellness must be integrated into every aspect of police work, not treated as a separate class. She recommended short, frequent psychoeducation sessions (e.g., five-minute videos at roll call) and mandatory annual mental health check-ins, funded through department budgets or grants.
• Caitlin Brennan (CEO, 100 Club of Illinois) added that annual mental health check-ins are the number one request from first responders in Illinois, based on their statewide survey data. She noted that the 100 Club provides grant funding for such check-ins.

Discussion on Legislative and Insurance Barriers

• Dr. Franklin clarified that insurance typically requires a diagnosis for a wellness visit to be covered, which creates a barrier because officers fear losing their Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card or being seen as unfit for duty.
• Katie Don (working with the violence against women task force) asked about legislative options to mandate insurance coverage for wellness visits without a diagnosis. Caitlin Brennan explained that a recent Illinois law (sponsored by State Rep Mary Gill) intended to require insurance coverage for first responder couple therapy, but the Illinois Department of Insurance stated it has no enforcement authority over that law. The law only applies to self-insured plans offered by counties and municipalities, not to fully insured plans from issuers like Blue Cross Blue Shield.
• Brennan suggested that the most effective approach may be to use risk management and liability arguments to persuade agencies to fund wellness visits directly, rather than relying on insurance mandates.
• Dr. Franklin recommended that agencies use the power of the purse and grants to fund check-ins, noting that a quarter of a million dollars (the cost of one armored vehicle) could fund 1,000 wellness visits and associated research.

Key Outcomes

• Dr. Franklin's recommendations will be considered for inclusion in the task force's ongoing work. The meeting was recorded and will be shared via Legistar for follow-up.
• Attendees agreed to continue conversations and explore ways to implement mental health check-ins, potentially through policy changes, supervisor training, and peer support programs.
• No formal votes were taken. The meeting was adjourned by Alderman Tabaras.